Maroon

              The Maroon SPECIAL TUESDAY EDITION I oyoLt I H/rcrsity Ncic Or/dins VOL. 79, NO. 05 | I 1 I M)\V. SI P 1 I MM I R 1*). 2000 MAROON.LOYNO.EDU NOWHERE TO GO By Luke Kummer Staff writer Although Robert Riley graduated from Loyola in 1998, he is still here, working cm a master's degree in religion as well as a law degree. He studies for long hours in the Academic Resource Center, spurred by the support he receives there and the hope of a successful legal career. Riley said he has always had high aspirations, but he did not always receive the encouragement he has at Loyola. Riley has a learning disability called visual-processing deficit, which makes reading more difficult. Riley recalled being in the eighth grade, signing up for his classes for the ninth grade. "There was a journalism elective and that's what I wanted to sign up to. My special ed teacher told me, 'Well, Robert, you can't do that.' I said, 'Well, why not?' and she said, 'Well, you've got to leam to work with your hands.' That crushed my dreams for a while," he said. Riley dropped out of high school. He made it to Loyola after completing his GED and a stint at Delgado Community College, where he did well academically. "My success [at Delgado] made me think I had beat my learning disability. But it catight up with me. After my first semester [at Loyola] I had something like a 1.4 grade point average." One of Riley's professors recommended he talk with the people at Disability Services, a department of Loyola's Academic Resource Center "I was denying my learning disability," he said. "I was anxious, but I explained to Sarah Smith, [director of Academic Resources and Disability Services], that I had been told I had a learning disability. Sarah became the First person to explain to me my disability. That really lifted a burden off of me. No one had ever made that effort before," he said. "Sarah changed the way I perceived myself and allowed me to be able to accept the help that she had to offer me." Smith said that her department provides STAFF PHOTO BY EFRAIN CRUZ Jeny R. Morris, communications senior and a physically disabled student, looks up the (light of stairs at the bathroom in Monroe Hall — an obstacle some students cannot overcome. Disability Services helps accomodate students with difficulties around campus, but there is only so much they can do. Miley shoots STAFF PHOTO BY EFRAIN CRUZ Mike Miley, English writing senior, answers questions from the crowd Mowing the premiere of his film Ghost Writers. The screening was held in Bobet 332. The film took nine months to complete. For complete interview, aee page 11. Students to walk in 'shoe By Andrea Mueller Contributing writer Loyola announces fall, spring graduation venues Debate over the beauty of an oncampus graduation ceremony and dealing with the heat that New Orleans undoubtedly dishes out during the summer has come to an end. Spring graduation will be held in the university Horseshoe for the second consecutive year, according to Kristine David, director of Public Affairs. Although some fear it will be too hot, David said. Loyola's administration sees a greater benefit, for the ability for graduates to invite as many guests as he or she wants and keeping die ceremony tied closely to the school itself. Ceremonies will be held May 18 and 19, in a format similar to the spring 2000 ceremonies. Fall graduation is scheduled in the Rec Plex on December 17. These accommodations are smaller, but according to David, the number of students involved in the ceremony also is much smaller. Each fall graduate will be allowed to invite four guests. New Orleans' unpredictable winter weather is another reasony the indoor ceremony is more appropriate for the fall graduation. David said. Bonnie Gallagher, music education senior, agreed that May is too hot, and suggested that accommodations such as tents are needed. At one point during preparations for last year's ceremonies there were to be tents provided, but only for the faculty and president, but this idea was dismissed. If there is rain on any of the spring graduation dates, that graduation also will be held in the Rec Plex. This could become inconvenient STAFF PHOTO BY EFRAIN CRUZ Graduation 2000 was in the Horseshoe. See DISABILITIES, Page 4 See GRADUATION, Page 3 FraDAY: A feature on retortion on campus — part 2 of our 4-part news series